William l



(No Model.)

W. L. GORDON.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 375,152. Patented'Dec. 20, 1887.

l Qwcmeooeo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. GORDON, OF ROME, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,152, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed September 10, 1887. Serial No. 249,357. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. GORDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rome, in the county of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in carcouplings; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the bumpers, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the engaging bumper. Fig. 3 is a detail View showing the motion of the coupling-hooks, and Fig. 4: is a perspective view showing a slight modification.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates a bumper, in which, near the front end thereof, I secure the transverse pins B. These pins are provided with enlarged heads 0 and are nearly circular in crosssection, having but one edge, D, which forms the upper rear cornor of the pin. The coupling-hooks E are mounted on these pins,and, instead of the two pins inserted in the opposite sides of the bumper,a single bar or rod extending entirely across the front or face of the bumper may be employed. p

The coupling-hooks E are formed by angleplates having the forwardly-extending arm F and the downwardly-extending arm G. The arms G are provided with longitudinal slots H, through which the pins 13 pass tohold the coupling-hooks in position, and which permit the said hooks to ride or play on said pins. The forwardly-extending arms F are provided at their front ends with the integral downwardly-projecting hooks I, the front edges of which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly, as shown. The arms F of the coup- Y ling-hooks are connected bya cross-bar, J, to

which I attach a chain or rod or similar device, K, which extends to the top or side of the car, so that the brakeman may uncouple the cars without going between the same.

The engaging-bumper L has secured in its forward end a cross-bar or pin, M, the ends of which project past the sides of the bumper, as shown, and are engaged by the coupling-hooks. This cross-bar is secured in position by having a strap, N, passed around its center and inserted into the bumper, the ends of the strap being secured in the bumper by a pin, 0, passed vertically through the same. Instead of this cross-bar or pin, it may sometimes be found preferable to use two studs, 1?, formed on opposite sides of the bumper, as shown in Fig. 4, and such change would involve no departure from my invention.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. When the draw-heads are brought together,the coupling-hooks ride up over the ends of the cross-bar or pin and fall behind the same. thereby making the coupling. Then it is desired to uncouple the cars, the hooks are disengaged from the cross-bar and the cars will then move apart.

It will be observed that my device is very simple in construction and that it is efficient in operation. The slotted construction of the depending arm of the coupling -hooks allows them to adjust themselves to cars of varying heights in coupling.

It will also be observed upon reference to Fig. 3 that the coupling-hooks have two motions upon their securing-pins, as indicated by the dotted lines in said Fig. 3-that is, they have a direct vertical motion and alsoa rotary motion upward and backward, the edge D preventing the hooks falling downward and forward, so as to interfere with the operation of coupling. The transverse coupling pin, when secured to the bumper, as shown in Fig. 2, is removable, thereby facilitating the substitution of a new pin for a broken one. The coupling-hooks can be secured in a similar manner by passing a strap around the pin or bolt B and into the draw head.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination of the bumper, the

transverse pins therein having a single longitudinal edge, D, the coupling-hooks having the slotted depending arms fitted on the transverse pins, aud the forwardly-extending arms having the hooks I at their forward ends, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the bumper, the transverse pins therein, the coupling-hooks mounted on said transverse pins, the crossbar connecting the coupling-hooks, and the uncoupling device attached to said cross-bar,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as substantially as specified.

my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 10 3. The combination of a bumper, the transpresence of two Witnesses. verse coupling-pin the strap passed around 5 said pin and having its ends inserted into the WILLIAM GORDON bumper, and the securing-pin passed vertically Witnesses:

through the bumper and the'ends of the said WVM; E. BEYSIEGEL, strap, substantially as described. A. E. Ross. 

